Dell POWERVAULT MD3600I - Manual (Page 196)

A primary virtual disk in a remote replication can be either a source virtual disk or a target virtual disk in a virtual disk
copy.
You can create a virtual disk copy on the primary virtual disk in a replicated pair, but you cannot create a virtual disk
copy of a secondary virtual disk in a replicated pair. Instead, you can copy a secondary virtual disk in one of two ways:
• Promote the secondary virtual disk to the primary role.
CAUTION: If a primary/secondary role reversal is begun while a virtual disk copy is in progress, the virtual
disk copy fails and be unable to restart.
• Create a snapshot virtual disk of the secondary virtual disk, then perform a virtual disk copy of the snapshot
virtual disk.
Virtual Disk Expansion With Remote Replication (Legacy)
Virtual Disk Expansion (VDE) increases the capacity of an existing virtual disk. This increased capacity is achieved by
using the free capacity available on one of the following:
• The disk group of the standard virtual disk
• The snapshot repository virtual disk
Performing a VDE operation does not interrupt access to data on disk groups, virtual disks or physical disks.
A VDE operation can be performed on a primary virtual disk or a secondary virtual disk of a replicated pair. It cannot be
performed on a replication repository virtual disk. No other action can be performed on a virtual disk while it is
undergoing expansion (except normal disk I/O).
NOTE: To perform a VDE operation, the remote replication must be in Optimal status. The properties pane in the
logical view displays the status of a virtual disk.
Required Switch Zoning Configurations
Due to potential restrictions at the host level, remote replication configurations must contain Fibre Channel switches.
Fibre Channel switches must be zoned so that a single host adapter accesses only one RAID controller module in a
storage array. Additionally, all zone configurations should specify separate zones for ports that are reserved for remote
replication functions.
NOTE: Do not zone the uplink port (E_port) that connects (cascades) switches within a fabric.
Switch zoning configurations are typically set using the switch management software provided by the Fibre Channel
switch vendor. This software is either included with the switch itself, or downloaded from the vendor's website.
Zoning Guidelines for Remote Replication (Legacy)
Enabling remote replication on your storage array automatically dedicates one port per RAID controller exclusively to
replication. These dedicated ports, Port 3 on RAID controller 0 and Port 3 on RAID controller 1, must be in different zones
on the Fibre Channel switch. Generally, switch zoning should be established so that:
• All RAID Controller 0 Fibre Channel Port 3s are in a common zone.
• All RAID Controller 1 Fibre Channel Port 3s are in a common zone, but separately zoned from RAID Controller 0
ports.
• Host Fibre Channel access ports are in separate zones from those established for remote replication.
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